Ahead of State of the Union, New Report Shows How Steil and Van Orden's Records Are Raising Costs for Wisconsin Families

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org
 

Ahead of State of the Union, New Report Shows How Steil and Van Orden's Records Are Raising Costs for Wisconsin Families

Opportunity Wisconsin releases district-by-district analysis of the real-world impact of Trump administration policies that have been rubber-stamped by Congressmen Steil and Van Orden

MADISON, Wis. — As President Trump prepares to deliver the State of the Union Address to Congress, Opportunity Wisconsin today released new reports documenting how Reps. Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden's support for Trump administration policies is driving up costs for families, seniors, veterans, and small businesses across Wisconsin's 1st and 3rd Congressional Districts.

The reports, Paying the Price, finds that since the last State of the Union Address, both congressmen voted for the Republican Tax Law — which made the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in history — and have backed sweeping tariffs that independent economists say are raising costs for Wisconsin households and businesses. Together, these policies are squeezing district families from both sides: cuts to the programs they depend on, and higher prices on the goods they buy every day.
 

Read Opportunity Wisconsin’s Report on the 1st Congressional District
Read Opportunity Wisconsin’s Report on the 3rd Congressional District

"While Rep. Steil and Rep. Van Orden have voted to cut health care and SNAP for their own constituents, they've stood firmly behind tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and tariffs that are hitting Wisconsin families and businesses hard," said Meghan Roh, Program Director of Opportunity Wisconsin. "As President Trump addresses Congress tomorrow night, we want Wisconsinites to know exactly what their representatives have chosen — and what it's costing them."

Reps. Steil and Van Orden have the opportunity to reverse course and undo the damage they have caused by restoring Medicaid and SNAP funding, bringing back the health care tax credits their constituents depend on, and standing up against tariffs that are raising costs across Wisconsin.

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Supreme Court strikes down costly tariffs Reps. Van Orden and Steil voted for

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org 
 

Supreme Court strikes down costly tariffs Reps. Van Orden and Steil voted for

Tariffs struck down as new data shows Americans are paying for 90% of tariff cost increases

MADISON, Wis. – Earlier today the U.S. Supreme Court struck down most of President Trump’s costly tariffs which have sent prices for everyday items skyrocketing while Republicans in Congress, including Congressmen Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil voted for the tariffs and refused to stand up for working families.

"The Supreme Court shouldn't have had to step in because Republicans in Congress voted for tariffs that are raising prices," said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. "For months, Congressmen Van Orden and Steil voted for and have stood by tariffs that raised prices at the grocery store and forced small businesses to increase their prices. The damage has already been done to Wisconsin families and businesses. Now it's time for Van Orden and Steil to make clear they'll oppose any future tariffs and harmful economic policies that raise costs for working families."

From March through November Wisconsin businesses had already paid $3.5 billion in tariffs, forcing them to raise prices. Recent reporting from the New York Federal Reserve found that Americans are the ones stuck paying for the cost of tariffs. In fact, researchers found “nearly 90 percent of the tariffs’ economic burden fell on U.S. firms and consumers.”

Throughout this crisis, Van Orden and Steil voted for Trump's tariffs instead of standing up for Wisconsin families and businesses. Last week both congressmen voted again to keep tariffs in place and backed a failed measure which would have prevented members of Congress from introducing legislation to roll them back.  In addition to backing tariffs, they have also consistently supported policies that raise costs for working families, including voting earlier this year for the Republican Tax Law that forces massive cuts to Medicaid and SNAP just to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations.
 

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Constituents Deliver Valentine's Day Cards to Reps. Steil and Van Orden, Calling on Them to Reverse Medicaid Cuts

KENOSHA AND EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – In case you missed it, last week constituents delivered nearly 200 Valentine's Day cards to Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden calling on them to reverse their votes for devastating cuts to Medicaid. The cards, featuring messages like "Be my Valentine, don't be cruel – Cutting Medicaid isn't cool," were signed by constituents across the districts and delivered to both offices on Friday.

The Republican Tax Law that both congressmen voted for will result in 54,000 Wisconsinites losing Medicaid coverage. The law cuts Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations.

View photos of the delivery here

"Cutting Medicaid isn't love—it hurts Wisconsin families who depend on this coverage to stay healthy and access care," said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. "Congressmen Steil and Van Orden chose to prioritize tax breaks for the ultra-rich over health care for their constituents. It's time to reverse these cruel cuts."

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Van Orden and Steil vote to keep costly Canadian tariffs in place

Congressmen once again vote against ending tariffs despite new data showing $1,300 annual cost to working families

MADISON, Wis. – Today, Congressmen Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil voted against a resolution to end President Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods, choosing to keep tariffs in place that are driving up costs on groceries, building materials, and other everyday items for Wisconsin families. The vote came just one day after both congressmen voted to prevent Congress from even debating these cost-raising tariffs.

"Twice in two days, Congressmen Van Orden and Steil have chosen to protect Trump's tariffs over providing relief to Wisconsin families," said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. "These tariffs are costing families $1,300 this year and wiping out nearly all tax relief working families received. Van Orden and Steil had the chance to provide relief – instead they doubled down on policies that are raising prices at the grocery store and the checkout line."

According to the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, tariffs have erased between 70 percent and 95 percent of tax cuts for middle-income families and have eliminated tax savings almost entirely for lower-middle-income households. Wisconsin businesses have already paid $2.7 billion in tariffs, forcing them to raise prices or scale back operations.

Wisconsin small business owner TJ recently spoke out on the impact of tariffs, saying, “as a small business owner, I've seen firsthand how tariffs are driving up the cost of goods and forcing businesses to make tough financial decisions. Tariffs are absolutely forcing families to pay more for everyday items and they're costing our economy thousands of jobs.”

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Van Orden and Steil vote to protect Trump's costly tariffs as Wisconsin families pay the price

After voting to block tariff challenges, House to vote Wednesday on ending Canada tariffs that have driven up costs

MADISON, Wis. – On Tuesday night, Congressmen Derrick Van Orden and Bryan Steil voted to prevent Congress from challenging President Trump's tariffs, which new reports show have cost families an extra $1,000 last year and are projected to cost $1,300 this year according to new research from the nonpartisan Tax Foundation. The measure failed 217-214 after three Republicans joined all Democrats in opposing it, clearing the way for a vote as early as today on a resolution to end Trump's tariffs on Canada.

"Congressmen Van Orden and Steil had a choice: stand with Wisconsin families struggling with higher costs or protect Trump's tariff policies that are driving up prices on everything from groceries to building materials," said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. "They chose to shield these tariffs, even as new data shows tariffs are dramatically increasing costs for working families. It’s time for Van Orden and Steil to reject these tariffs and provide relief to Wisconsin families – including voting to end Canadian tariffs that are forcing prices higher."

New data shows Trump's tariffs are wiping out any benefit Wisconsin families might have received from recent tax cuts. According to the Tax Foundation, tariffs have erased between 70 percent and 95 percent of tax cuts for middle-income families. For lower-middle-income households, their projected $245 tax cut is nearly canceled out by an estimated $233 tariff burden. 

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ICYMI: Tariffs costing U.S. economy thousands of jobs monthly

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org

ICYMI: Tariffs costing U.S. economy thousands of jobs monthly

FOX Business: “The Kansas City Fed economists estimated that the economy could've added 19,000 more jobs each month, on average, from January 2025 to August 2025 without tariff effects…”

MADISON, Wis. – In case you missed it, a new analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City found that tariffs are slowing jobs growth across the country and costing our economy thousands of new jobs each month as businesses continue to be squeezed by costly tariffs supported by Republicans in Congress.

The report found that in addition to monthly employment growth dropping by nearly 100,000 jobs, job growth last year lagged behind 2022-23 data in every sector. Republican members of Congress including Reps. Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden have voted multiple times to keep these tariffs in place, driving up costs for families and threatening our economic success. 

"As a small business owner, I've seen firsthand how tariffs are driving up the cost of goods and forcing businesses to make tough financial decisions. Tariffs are absolutely forcing families to pay more for everyday items and they're costing our economy thousands of jobs,” said small business owner TJ Semanchin. “Voting to end these tariffs should be an easy decision for Republicans in Congress, it's time for Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden to act."

FOX Business: Tariffs may have cost US economy thousands of jobs monthly, Fed analysis reveals
 

• An analysis by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City found that tariffs may have slowed job growth in the U.S. economy in 2025 after higher import taxes were implemented.
   

• Economists at the Kansas City Fed noted that employment growth slowed markedly from 170,000 per month in 2024 to only 75,000 per month through August 2025, a trend that Fed policymakers have monitored closely and which helped prompt three interest rate cuts at the central bank's meetings in September, October and December.
   

• "Overall, our findings suggest — at least thus far — domestic firms might have added fewer jobs in response to tariffs, similar to the employment effects of the 2018 tariffs," the economists concluded.
   

• The economists found that job growth in nearly all sectors in 2025 was below the 2022-23 average, reflecting the strong post-pandemic recovery in those earlier years as well as the recent slowdown. 
   

• They also found that sectors with greater exposure to tariffs faced a greater decline in job growth, which they attributed to direct tariff effects.

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Senator Baldwin, Wisconsin families demand Republicans reverse Medicaid cuts that strip healthcare from 54,000 Wisconsinites

R IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org
 

Senator Baldwin, Wisconsin families demand Republicans reverse Medicaid cuts that strip healthcare from 54,000 Wisconsinites

Kenosha firefighter, patient with chronic illness, and Wisconsin doctor share how Republican Tax Law is devastating real families 

MADISON, Wis. – On a press call hosted by Opportunity Wisconsin and Committee to Protect Healthcare this morning, Senator Tammy Baldwin joined Wisconsin families and a healthcare provider to demand Republicans in Congress reverse the largest Medicaid cut in U.S. history and extend healthcare tax credits that expired at the end of 2025. Republicans in Congress voted to cut healthcare for 54,000 Wisconsinites to pay for tax breaks for billionaires, and Wisconsin families are already feeling the devastating impact.

Watch full call here

“We need to roll back these Medicaid cuts. We need to give working families who get their health care through the Affordable Care Act a tax break so they can afford their insurance, and we need to fix our broken health care system. I'm at the table, and I'll work with anyone to get this done for Wisconsin families,” said Senator Tammy Baldwin.

Joe, a Kenosha firefighter and constituent of Congressman Bryan Steil, shared how his family depends on Medicaid to afford care for his son who was diagnosed with a rare disorder in 2014. His son is susceptible to congenital heart defects and juvenile polyposis, requiring extensive ongoing treatment.

"The senator mentioned a constituent that was paying $1,300 a month just for premiums, not counting co-pays. That's a mortgage. So now we're paying a mortgage, and we're paying additional costs similar to that in just our health insurance. It's too much to bear," said Joe. "I've seen a lot of inaction. Congress needs to take action and reverse those cuts immediately and restore health care for the Wisconsinites that are losing it. Our families can't wait."

Emma, a 26-year-old from Mount Pleasant and constituent of Congressman Bryan Steil, was an elite volleyball player before developing rare, incurable chronic conditions including dysautonomia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and mast cell activation syndrome - conditions that thousands of others are now experiencing after COVID-19.

"In 2020, the Aging Disability Resource Center of Racine County estimated my medications would cost over $2 million a year. I'm on disability. I make $12,000 a year," said Emma. "When Congressman Bryan Steil voted to cut Medicaid, he voted to take away the health care that is my lifeline. It literally keeps people like me alive, and it's just shocking that someone would do such a thing."

Kate from Tomah, whose 93-year-old mother is a constituent of Congressman Derrick Van Orden and depends on Medicaid for long-term care, shared her experience meeting with Van Orden to voice her concerns.

“He went even further as to write my mom a handwritten letter saying that he would never cut her well-deserved or earned benefits. And you know, I wanted to believe him. I wanted to trust him, but to be honest, I was not surprised when just a few months after he wrote that letter and after our meeting, he voted for the Republican tax law that included the largest Medicaid cut in U.S. history,” said Kate. 

Dr. Abigail La Nou, an emergency and critical care physician from Chippewa Falls and constituent of Congressman Derrick Van Orden, spoke about seeing patients who depend on Medicaid coverage.

"Every day in the emergency department, in the critical care unit, I see people that depend on Medicaid for health care, and I don't think many people realize how extensive it is. The seniors that we see, many of them depend on that to cover nursing home costs, and unfortunately, many people need to go to skilled nursing or rehab after a hospital stay,” said Dr. La Nou. “I see many children in the emergency department who are on Medicaid for chronic conditions, for income, working families who would absolutely go bankrupt without Medicaid coverage.”

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Opportunity Wisconsin wraps up winter coat drive, collecting nearly 100 coats for local nonprofits

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2026
CONTACT: press@opportunitywisconsin.org
 

Opportunity Wisconsin wraps up winter coat drive, collecting nearly 100 coats for local nonprofits

As families face high costs and tight budgets, Opportunity Wisconsin and local businesses step up to help community members in need

MADISON, Wis. – Opportunity Wisconsin and local businesses across the state wrapped up their "Don't Leave Wisconsinites Out In the Cold Coat Drive,” collecting nearly 100 coats for Wisconsin families struggling with rising costs thanks to tariffs, increasing healthcare premiums, and other policies that are making essential items unaffordable for too many families.

The coat drive partnered with local businesses across the state including Eau Claire Outdoors in Eau Claire, Public Brewing Company in Kenosha, and La Taquiza restaurant in Mount Pleasant. Collected coats are being distributed to families in need through local nonprofit organizations.

"The overwhelming response to this coat drive shows what we already know—Wisconsinites take care of each other," said Opportunity Wisconsin Program Director Meghan Roh. "But community generosity shouldn't have to make up for failed policies in Washington. We need leaders who will fight to lower costs for working families, not add to their burden with cuts to critical programs."

"We were proud to be part of this effort," said Emanuel Davalos from La Taquiza. "Our community showed up in a big way, and it's been incredible to see so many people come together to help their neighbors. Every coat donated means a family stays a little warmer this winter."

"Supporting our community is what we're all about," said Kate Felton from Eau Claire Outdoors. "This coat drive reminded us that when people work together, we can make a real difference for families who need it most. We're grateful to everyone who donated."

In the coming weeks and months, members of Congress including Congressmen Bryan Steil and Derrick Van Orden have the opportunity to lower costs and ease the burden on Wisconsin families. Whether it’s restoring health care tax credits to make premiums affordable or repealing costly tariffs that are driving up the price of everyday items, it’s critical that Congress prioritizes relief for working families who are struggling to succeed.

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